The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today affirm our role to love our brothers and sisters through application of our God given talents to address their needs.
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians emphasizes mutual charity as we love all the brothers and sisters more.
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew presents the Parable of the Talents.
* [25:14] It will be as when…journey: literally, “For just as a man who was going on a journey.” Although the comparison is not completed, the sense is clear; the kingdom of heaven is like the situation here described. Faithful use of one’s gifts will lead to participation in the fullness of the kingdom, lazy inactivity to exclusion from it.
* [25:15] Talents: see note on Mt 18:24.
* [25:18] Buried his master’s money: see note on Mt 13:44.
* [25:20–23] Although the first two servants have received and doubled large sums, their faithful trading is regarded by the master as fidelity in small matters only, compared with the great responsibilities now to be given to them. The latter are unspecified. Share your master’s joy: probably the joy of the banquet of the kingdom; cf. Mt 8:11.
* [25:26–28] Wicked, lazy servant: this man’s inactivity is not negligible but seriously culpable. As punishment, he loses the gift he had received, that is now given to the first servant, whose possessions are already great.
* [25:29] See note on Mt 13:12 where there is a similar application of this maxim.
* [25:30] See note on Mt 8:11–12. (Matthew, CHAPTER 25, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J. ( 2013 ) had the joy of serving in a parish where the Parish Council and its committees saw their role as calling forth the gifts of the whole community. Something incredibly wonderful happened as more and more people came forward, responding to the consistent invitation. We found ourselves working hard to create more ways to use the wonderful skills and creativity and generosity that started to gather. People saw their response as part of their baptismal commitment - to be one with Jesus, in being for others. It was empowering. Offering some of their gifts, and having those gifts welcomed and affirmed, people were discovering that they had even more gifts that they had not ever recognized, not ever exercised. We all discovered what power came from the collaborative efforts that were happening - each of our gifts complimented and strengthened others.
It is wonderful to pause today to remember that Jesus has entrusted to us - put us in charge of - tremendous resources. For us who are baptized into him, they are truly his resources. It is good to remember that I probably don't fully appreciate what I have been given, and therefore, what I have to invest. And I probably don't fully appreciate the gifts that others around me have, and what resources they might be able to share. Even when I am stretched and learn new skills - becoming a better listener, changing a long standing pattern and discovering a new ability, taking a risk that pays off many times over - the inspiration and gift is from the Lord. Whether we are practicing better patience, greater self-confidence and courage, fuller chastity, deeper generosity, these are all fruits of his Spirit - given to us for the benefit of all, for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Dear Lord,
help us to receive and come to appreciate the gifts you give us, to develop further and to share with others.
Help us to be more generous, risky, free.
Inspire us to see and trust your gifts in others.
Let us all call forth the gifts of others in our communities.
May we all one day be gathered to share your joy. (Alexander, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Eternal Joys,” by Gregory the Great (540-604 AD.
"All the good deeds of our present life, however many they may appear to be, are few in comparison with our eternal recompense. The faithful servant is put in charge of many things after overcoming all the troubles brought him by perishable things. He glories in the eternal joys of his heavenly dwelling. He is brought completely into the joy of his master when he is taken into his eternal home and joined to the company of angels. His inner joy at his gift is such that there is no longer any external perishable thing that can cause him sorrow." (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 9.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 25:14-30 comments that God has entrusted us with talents and gifts, and he expects us to “invest” them by using them to build his kingdom.
The more aware you become of how you have been blessed with specific gifts, the more your eyes will be opened to all the opportunities around you to use them. Be willing to start small, and be patient with yourself and with others as you discover new ways to share your talents. Share them generously as you await the Master’s praise: “Come and share in my joy”!
“Father, thank you for being so generous with the gifts you have given me. Help me to freely give away what I have received.” (Meditation on Matthew 25:14-30, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the encouragement of Paul to the Thessalonians to live a tranquil life working with their hands and showing the greatest love possible to their community. The talent in Jesus' time was a large amount of precious gold or silver. Friar Jude reminds us of the gifts we have for building up the Kingdom that are not intended for our self aggrandizement.
James Finley introduces author Esther de Waal who considers Thomas Merton’s practice of contemplative photography. It was in the later 1950s that the journalist John Howard Griffin [1920–1980] visited Merton in his hermitage. He had his camera with him and … let [Merton] keep it on extended loan. At first when Merton sent him the negatives, John Howard Griffin was puzzled, for [Merton’s] view was so different from that of most people. Merton photographed whatever crossed his path—a battered fence, a rundown wooden shack, weeds growing between cracks, working gloves thrown down on a stool, a dead root, a broken stone wall. He approached each thing with attention, he never imposed, he allowed each thing to communicate itself to him in its own terms, and he gave it its own voice.
Later on when he was out in the woods with a young friend, Ron Seitz, both with their cameras, Merton reprimanded him severely for the speed with which he approached things. He told him to stop looking and to begin seeing:
Because looking means that you already have something in mind for your eye to find; you’ve set out in search of your desired object and have closed off everything else presenting itself along the way. But seeing is being open and receptive to what comes to the eye…. [1]
He used his camera primarily as a contemplative instrument. He captured the play of light and dark, the ambience, the inner life. But above all he struggled towards an expression of silence through the visual image, so that his photographs show us that ultimately his concern was to communicate the essence of silence. (Finley, 2023)
We understand that our mission is concerned with love and our talents are called to share and grow love as we are prompted by the Spirit to see opportunities on our journey.
References
Alexander, A. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/090223.html
Finley, J. (2023, September 2). A Contemplative Heart: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-contemplative-heart-weekly-summary-2023-09-02/
Matthew, CHAPTER 25. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25?
Meditation on Matthew 25:14-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/02/770936/
Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep2
No comments:
Post a Comment